Monster Hunter Wilds Unveils Cooking Mechanics

Summary

• Monster Hunter Wilds emphasizes the visual appeal of in-game food through exaggerated realism.
• Players can enjoy meals anywhere in the game, embracing a camping grill atmosphere rather than a restaurant setting.
• The game will offer a diverse menu, including a mysterious "extravagant" meat dish, to enhance the culinary experience.

Monster Hunter Wilds is set to elevate the visual allure of in-game food to new heights, as confirmed by key members of its development team. The game will feature an extensive selection of dishes ranging from meat and fish to vegetables, with the developers dedicating significant effort to make them look irresistibly delicious. This approach goes beyond mere realism, incorporating elements of exaggeration to enhance the visual appeal of the food.

Since its inception in 2004, the Monster Hunter series has included cooking as a core mechanic, allowing players to consume meals crafted from the monsters they defeat. Over the years, the importance of food in the game has grown, with the variety of meals and ingredients expanding significantly. The trend of focusing on food reached a new level with Monster Hunter World in 2018, where the developers aimed to create dining experiences that players would genuinely enjoy.

This focus on appetizing in-game food is set to be further amplified in Monster Hunter Wilds, which is scheduled for release on February 28, 2025. Executive Director/Art Director Kaname Fujioka and Director Yuya Tokuda have emphasized the importance of making food look not just realistic, but also delicious. In a recent IGN video interview, Fujioka explained, "Making it look realistic isn't enough to make it look good. You really have to think about what makes something look delicious." This involves blending realism with exaggeration, drawing inspiration from anime and commercials, including special lighting effects and enhanced food models.

Monster Hunter Wilds Devs Use Exaggerated Realism in Cooking Scenes

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players will have the freedom to dine anywhere, shifting from the traditional restaurant theme to a more immersive camping grill experience. A preview from December showcased a tantalizing cheese pull that has already excited fans, but there's more to the menu. Even a simple dish like roasted cabbage posed a challenge for Fujioka, who managed to make it appealing by showcasing it realistically puffing up as the lid is removed from the pan. An accompanying video also features the cabbage adorned with a roasted egg on top.

On the other end of the spectrum, Tokuda, known for his passion for meat both in-game and in real life, hinted at the introduction of a secret "extravagant" meat dish, though he kept the details under wraps. The game aims to offer a wide variety of dishes and capture the expressions of characters enjoying meals around a campfire, creating an exaggerated yet realistic sense of food-related bliss in its cooking cutscenes.